As the sun rose on a crisp Monday morning, Pearl Bailey High School buzzed with the chatter and laughter of students catching up with friends before the start of another school day. Excited groups huddled around lockers, exchanging weekend stories and making plans for the days ahead.

For Snot, Barry, and Toshi, this Monday marked the beginning of their school year, despite classes having started three weeks earlier. The school, once considered a cursed place filled with future delinquents, was now seen in a different, slightly more positive light.

While at camp, Snot experienced a devastating fire that destroyed half of the camp. Following the fire, a 2 weeks-long storm forced them to hunker down, turning his fun getaway into a survival challenge due to dwindling food supplies.

Toshi had high hopes of connecting with his peers during his summer trip to China, only to find it equally miserable. He soon realized that his extended family was much stricter than his parents, criticizing every mistake severely and prolonging their stay until perfection was achieved. After nearly three weeks, his parents had to leave due to work commitments, leaving China with a sense of shame.

Barry's location during the summer months remained a mystery, as his family clarified that he had departed because he had run out of medication and needed to see a therapist to get them refilled.

The trio breathed a sigh of relief as the school came into view.

"I never thought I'd be happy to be back at this place," Snot beamed, his friends flashing smiles of agreement. As they approached the entrance, a familiar face caught his eye amidst the bustling crowd of students, "Hey Steve!" he exclaimed, greeting his friend with a cheerful wave.

Steve was anxiously waiting by the school steps, impatiently tapped his foot on the concrete. His eyes darted down the road every few seconds, hoping to catch a glimpse of the familiar shade of red.

Upon hearing his name, he swiftly turned to see his three friends approaching, his heart sank a little upon realizing it was them.

"Hey guys," he greeted them with a forced smile, trying to conceal the disappointment. "So, how was your 'Best summer ever'?" He quoted the words his friends had used a few months ago.

When summer began, his friends couldn't stop talking about all their plans for the season, making him feel a pang of jealousy. He attempted to convince his parents to let him join, but they shut down his requests without budging an inch. It left him fuming at the time, but looking back now, he realizes it was a blessing in disguise. and he has never been more grateful.

Snot chuckled softly while rubbing the back of his neck, a sheepish grin spreading across his face. "Well, the best summer ever didn't turn out so well," he admitted. In a friendly gesture, he wrapped his arm around Steve's shoulder, guiding him toward the school stairs. "I'll tell you all about it during Lunch," he promised.

Steve, however, had other plans. He shrugged Snot's arm off and halted just before they reached the steps. "Actually, I'm waiting for someone," he replied, his tone casual but firm.

"Who's that?" Berry piped up; his curiosity piqued as he joined the conversation.

"My new neighbor, Leo," Steve explained, nodding slightly. "Moved in a couple of weeks ago."

"Neighbor? You mean someone bought the house that your parents are rumored to kill for?" Snot asked, his eyebrows raised in surprise.

Steve couldn't help but chuckle at the mention, "Their reaction was not what I expected. I got the whole thing on video," he said, smirking mischievously.

Soon, his eyes were drawn to the sight of someone skillfully maneuvering a motor scooter into a parking spot nearby. The familiar figure was unmistakable. "Leo!" he shouted; his voice filled with excitement. As soon as he called out, he noticed Leo turning around, face lighting up with a smile.

As the two teens raced toward each other, the world around them seemed to fade into the background, replaced by the sheer joy of their reunion. They embraced tightly, wrapping their arms around one another as if they had been apart for months, rather than just a few hours. After a moment filled with warmth, they learned in and shared a brief kiss.

Nearby, three friends stood wide-eyed and slack-jawed, their expressions a mix of surprise and disbelief. "What the hell's going on?" Snot blurted out; his voice tinged with a bewildered incredulity.

3 weeks Earlier

As soon as Steve entered the house, the rush of adrenaline that had carried him this far faded away in an instant, replaced by a sinking feeling of dread and regret. A sudden clap of thunder made him jump, and the lights died instantly, plunging him into darkness. The harsh wind howled outside, and the heavy wooden door slammed shut behind him, making his heart race even faster. Steve's eyes darted around frantically in the pitch-black room, but he could see nothing, the fear inside him growing with each passing second.

Steve flinched upon feeling a hand gripping his forearm lightly. In the dark, he could barely make out the yellow sleeves of the raincoat, the outfit of the person he had followed into the house. A thought that didn't lessen his fear as he did not know the person.

"Sorry about the lights. The storm must have knocked it out." Without the raging storm to dull the noises around him, Steve found himself captivated by the soft and sweet voice, adorned with a delicate American accent of the person speaking. The angelic quality of the voice surprisingly had a calming effect on him, easing the tension in the air. "The generator will kick in any second now."

Steve's cheeks flushed with warmth as he managed to croak out a hesitant "OK," before being gently guided to sit on a small stool. "I never caught your name," he ventured, eager to engage in conversation and savor the melodious timbre of the person's voice once more.

"I go by Leo," came the reply, causing Steve to snap out of his daze at the mention of a typically male name.

Without thinking, he blurted out, "Leo? Isn't that a boy's name?" Sensing an unseen gaze fixed on him, Steve hastily amended, "Not that there's anything wrong with the name. It's just that you sound so lovely—uh, I mean, feminine. Your name caught me off guard because it's so strong and masculine."

A melodic laugh interrupted his awkward rambling, its sweetness a skinned to music to his ears. "It's all good. It's good that I sound feminine. I am a girl after all." the person reassured him. Suddenly, the lights flickered back on, revealing a breathtaking sight before Steve's eyes. He watched in awe as the girl in front of him unveiled herself, shedding a raincoat to hang gracefully on the coat rack by the entrance.

With short, bouncy curls cascading in a fiery shade of red that seemed to dance with every swish of her head, full lips painted a vibrant red that complemented the warmth of her skin kissed by the sun to a light tan. Steve found himself briefly mesmerized by her stunning presence. Her beauty was so striking that for a moment, it almost felt like she had been plucked from the heavens and placed right there in front of him.

Yet, with her fiery locks, there was a hint of danger about her. She exuded a seductive aura that could easily be mistaken for a temptress. One might imagine her as the kind of enchantress who could lead a man to the brink of obsession, leaving him yearning for more with each whispered promise.

Steve swore he would have undoubtedly dropped to his knees in awe of her presence if he hadn't already been seated. He discreetly placed his hands in his lap before she could notice his excitement.

"Leo is short for Leona," she mentioned, turning to face him with a smile. "Why don't we find you some dry clothes?" she suggested, her expression warm and caring.

Steve couldn't help but feel a bit flustered as he tried to focus on the innocent meaning behind her words. His mind, however, kept wandering to more suggestive scenarios where her offer could have a provocative meaning. He simply nodded in agreement, hoping to distract himself from his teenage thoughts.

Opening a door to his left, she swung open the door before motioning for him to follow.

The room bore resemblances to a luxurious motel suite, featuring two double beds separated by a nightstand on the left side of the room. Positioned opposite of the beds, adjacent to the wall, was an elegant six-drawer dresser. A sleek flat-screen television was securely mounted to the wall, nestled between two windows that defiantly withstood the fierce storm raging outside.

"This is the guest room. There's a bathroom and closet located over there," she mentioned, pointing towards a wall that led to a small hallway. "I recommend taking a warm shower before you get sick." Her serious expression bore into him as she scanned his appearance from head to toe. Steve felt his face flush with embarrassment, hoping she wasn't noticing where his hands were positioned. "I think I have clothes that should fit you. I'll be right back," she said, turning to leave the room.

Steve stood in silence, watching the girl headed for the door. Despite being a stranger and knowing that his family was previously literally fighting to buy her house, she was still willing to help him. Just as she was about to leave, he found his voice. "Thank you," he murmured, catching her attention as she reached for the door handle.

She paused briefly, turning back to him with a dazzling smile that sent his heart aflutter. "You're welcome," she responded warmly before stepping out and closing the door behind her.

After much debating about whether a cold or warm shower would offer the most relief, Steven finally decided. Despite the slow and careful effort to avoid worsening his injuries, he couldn't help but grimace as he gingerly made his way out of the shower. As he emerged from the bathroom, with a towel wrapped snugly around him, Steven let out a deep sigh, his tense muscles began to relax, and a feeling of relief washed over him.

As he stepped into the bedroom, his eyes immediately fell on the neatly arranged clothes resting on the bed. Without a second thought, he picked up the red pajama top and bottoms, along with the black boxer briefs before quickly getting dressed. Despite the boxer briefs being more than a tad roomy, the elastic waistband held them up snugly. The pajamas, 2 sizes too big, hung loosely on his frame, emanating comfort.

His focus on the clothes was short-lived, as a tantalizing aroma wafted into the room, luring his senses in the direction of the source of food.

Following the tantalizing scent that wafted through the air, he cautiously stepped out of the room, taking care to tread quietly on the floor. His eyes darted around the unfamiliar space, the last thing he wanted was to be caught snooping around someone else's home. This was someone he greatly appreciated—a kind person who had offered him shelter when he found himself caught in the rain. The thought of invading their privacy made him uneasy, but the delicious aroma was too alluring to ignore. As he moved further down the hallway, he felt a sense of relief wash over him when he finally realized that the source of the mouth-watering smell was just ahead, at the entrance of the kitchen.

From his spot at the doorway, he watched intently as his stunning red-headed host moved gracefully behind the kitchen island, stirring a bubbling pot of soup that filled the air with an inviting aroma. She wore an apron that hugged her figure perfectly, making her look even more enchanting as she focused on her work. His heart began to race, and he found himself lost in a vivid daydream, picturing this moment as if it were a scene from a classic black-and-white film.

In his mind, the image of a charming wife emerged dresses in a knee length floral dress, radiating elegance and warmth, stirring the soup with a slow, deliberate motion while a soft smile graced her lips. Nearby, in a highchair, a small child—no older than three—was blissfully engaged in a small toy. The scene tugged at his heartstrings, especially when the child glanced up towards him, a joyful smile lighting up the little face.

"Daddy!" the child exclaimed, his voice full of excitement as he adjusted a pair of rectangular glasses that bore a striking resemblance to his own, a detail that made the moment feel even more heartwarming.

At the shout of the child, the wife turned around with a steaming bowl of soup cradled in her hands and said, "Honey, you're here! I made some soup to warm you up." Her voice, filled with love and care. However, after a brief pause, the warmth of the moment flickered as she noticed his stillness. "Steve?" she called out, her tone shifting from sweet to concerned, snapping him back to the present.

Suddenly, the movie scene shattered; the child had vanished, leaving only the beautiful and very real Leo before him, holding a bowl of soup and wearing a concerned expression. The warmth of the moment shifted as Leo set the bowl down, stepping around the island with concern etched across her face. She took his hand in hers, and he felt a rush of affection as her fingers intertwined with his; the sensation brought an undeniable comfort. With a soft pull, she guided him toward a seat at the island, a place that felt welcoming and safe.

To be Continued....